Andalusia & Algarve (Spain & Portugal)

Destination: The Atlantic Ocean! We ride the backroads of rural Andalusia, an area where we’ll be taking the road less travelled through mountainous and hilly areas. The Guadalquivir River valley, the second longest river in Spain, will carry us through to the suburbs of Seville and then to the Donana National Park. There, in a very important area for the European part of the migratory birds’ journey South, we’ll be spending the night right on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.

A night in the strong Atlantic air gives us the energy for another exciting day in the saddle. Once again we make our way through the mountains, on curvy roads, this time toward the coast of Portugal and to the Algarve, one of the richest areas of the country in the Monchique Mountains, then we come back to the Atlantic shores, to the sandy beaches of the Algarve, toward Lagos.

North doesn’t have to mean cold. This is the day that we’ll do a relaxed climb up the coastal road, with the Atlantic to our left, looking for the mouth of the Tajo River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. Until we cross the bridge that take us to Lisbon, our host for the evening, we’ll experience a mix between the rural and the coastal Portuguese environments, with villages built around activities that have something to do with fishing.

So far, we haven’t heard of anyone who became bored on a day trip to Lisbon. A vibrant city that mixes the modern ways with a rich past, Lisbon awaits with its impressive churches, remarkable palaces and neighborhoods build on seven hills. The nightlife in Lisbon would deserve its own chapter.

After the long night that just passed, we have a day that’s thankfully shorter. Toward Cascais, a former modest port, evolved into what passes now for a Monaco of Portugal, then to the Westernmost point of Continental Europe, Cabo da Roca. The coastal road that we’ll be riding is one favored by riders from the Iberian Peninsula because it offers a perfect view to the beaches populated by surfers. In the evening, we dine in Evora, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Today we take pictures and buy souvenirs because we’re leaving Portugal. Tyres will tread Andalusian asphalt again, in the hilly Sierra Morena and Sierra de Aracena, where everything seems to have been designed to offer maximum riding pleasure. In the Riotinto mining area, we can find what locals call the best “jamon” of the entire Iberian Peninsula. Actually, the best jamon in the world: Jabugo Jamon.

Many things have been said and written about Seville and we’ll have the opportunity to live it all during a rest day. Flamenco, good food, relaxation and impressive architecture, almost as exciting as a day of riding the bike.

We leave one of the most important landmarks of Andalusia in all its beauty and we head South, through a rural landscape of far-reaching plains, only to ride to Arcos de la Frontera, where we’ll find one of the most spectacular white city from the area, Arcos de la Frontera. A white city, specific to Andalusia, not at all recommended to people who are scared of heights. We end the day in Tarifa, the place where Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Today we ride up to Grazalema Mountains, where we’ll find one of the most spectacular mountains passes from that area. We resist the temptation to stop in every white town along our route, but we are repaid for our strength by Ronda, our destination for the day. This is a town that was built in a manner that kind of defies the laws of physics, full of life a tourist landmarks.

We leave behind Ronda, a fairytale town where the buildings on the edge of the rocks play a spectacular game between the skill of people and the power of nature and we continue our tour, the next stop being Setenil de las Bodegas. This “white village” in the south of Spain is unique in its layout and appearance. Many of the streets and houses of this small village amaze with their unique, even bizarre appearance, being built among, under and even inside the rocks and ancient caves where the first inhabitants of the settlement lived here hundreds and even thousands of years ago. We will then leave for Caminito del Rey – a unique place in the world! A footbridge built in the rock, above the gorge, which takes you through a superb gorge, with landscapes that take your breath away.
In the afternoon we arrive in Mijas, where we will have a quiet evening, perfect to remember the strenghts of the day just ended.

Fully loaded with unforgettable experiences and with memories just ripe for storytelling, it’s time to head for the airport. We’ll see each other again on our next tour!